Imran warns of stiff resistance if NAB’s power clipped

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Saturday condemned the ruling PML-N for openly hurling threats at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and asserted that any bid to curtail its powers would be strongly resisted.

He told a media conference here along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and some provincial ministers that he would be heading a panel of experts to have review of the amendments made in the accountability law in the province.

Imran said that there could not be a parallel between the ruling party leadership’s open threats to NAB and their bid to ensure fair working of the Ehtesab Commission in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “None will be permitted to create hurdles in the way of accountability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as we want to rid the masses of corrupt elements and halt interference in its working,” Imran made it clear.

About transparency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and what he called rampant corruption in Punjab, he claimed that Peshawar flyover was built with a cost of Rs840 million per kilometre, whereas the Azadi Chowk flyover’s cost, built in Lahore, was Rs1,300 million more than that.

The PTI chairman reiterated that he was against the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as NAB chairman, following consultations between the PML-N leadership and leader of the opposition Khurshid Shah. He said, “Both parties have their cases pending in NAB for long and it is a clear conflict of interest. However, NAB should be appreciated for its good work against corruption.”

Replying to questions, Imran said that his party did not force the director general Ehtesab Commission of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to tender his resignation. On this count, Imran also announced the formation of a committee of experts, comprising jurists, to look into controversial amendments, if any, in the provincial Ehtesab Commission Act.

Imran explained that the committee would decide in four weeks whether the amendments hinder the process of accountability, claiming the amendments were introduced keeping in view the issues being faced by the commission.

To a question, he said that there was no allegation against Pervaiz Khattak, ministers and or MPA. He said that neither the commission head nor any other official had lodged any complaint of government interference in its functioning.

Imran noted that after the spadework of two years, the commission had been established with a view to fighting corruption and corrupt elements without any discrimination.